Everyday all businesses face vulnerabilities. Whether its email phishing, ransomware attacks or social engineering campaigns, it’s just a matter of time before a business incurs a security breach.

Most people think of a security breach as an open network port or missing patch updates, but there is also risks with MFPs and printers. Check out what Sharp Electronics has been doing since 2001.

Common Criteria Certification

Sharp was the first document systems manufacturer to obtain Common Criteria Certification on a hardcopy device. Since then, Sharp has continued to be a leader in document systems security by meeting the latest security guidelines by the U.S. Government. Common Criteria is an international standard that defines a set of high-level security guidelines for information technology products. Products that become Common Criteria certified have been rigorously tested over several months and validated by independent third-party laboratories, providing the most up to date security validation for businesses, government and military offices.

Hardcopy Device Protection Profile

In September of 2019, Sharp’s newest line of color workgroups and color desktop MFPs became Common Criteria Certified based on the Hardcopy Device Protection Profile (HCD-PP) V1.0 security target. Hardcopy Device Protection Profile (HCD-PP) is a specific security profile for multifunction printers (MFPs) and is based on requirements specific through the industry collaboration with the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) and the Information Technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA). The profile aims to protect information processed by an MFP from security threats.

Multi-layer Approach

In addition, Sharp takes a multi-layer security approach including the following features that are native to their hardware:

Change the Admin passwords regularly or when an employee leaves the company

Take steps to destroy the existing data on a hard disk when trading in the copier (End-of-Lease)

Removing the hard-drive completely when retiring a MFP

Closing unused network ports on the MFP

Protect wireless LAN’s

Don’t be a statistic, protect your company and avoid a breach. Did you know that 60% of all businesses lose their data through printer security breaches*? Here is a Checklist to Mitigate Threats at the MFP

Contact Smile Business Products for more information to ensure that your MFP is secure.